tsoc,
I can relate to what you said about hunting your tail off just to possibly get a chance to harvest a 2.5 year old eighgt point. It's realy sad. Like I usually tell my wife..."I'm going to take my gun for a walk."

If the DEC places restrictions on buck/rack sizes, who's going to police this policy?
Although I live in NJ, I hunt NY quite often. I've only seen DEC near Roscoe conducting roadside deer checks. Most of the land hunted from what I can see goes unpatrolled.
Will this be done on an honor system? Does everyone really call in and register their kills?
I have witnessed many deer being shot, skinned and quartered before they even reached the vehiclethe guys were driving. They take the deer to the cabin/lodge, do the cleanup and quartering and stuff it in the cooler for the ride home.
I can't imagine how this would work in such a large state with such a diversity of roads and open areas.
I'll be curious to see how you gents from NY continue this forum and where it ends up after you receive more info from the feds.

It's much easier to police and enforce antler restrictions on a statewide basis. When only a few DMU's have restrictions in place hunters can literally shoot an illegal buck in a restricted DMU, tag it andillegaly fill out the tag for a DMU that has no restriction. I'm certain this happens frequently in the 3C and 3J areas. In one particular are along the western border of 3c where I hunt the restriction applies to one side of the road and not the other! You figureout what's gonna happen if a guy shoots a buck with less than 3 legal points on one side, and he's on the eastside of that roadway! With a statewide restriction in place if you have in possesion abuck that is illegal , well then it's.......just that.

s6

s6

Mandatory statewide even though areas vary widely throughout the state and most don't see the need for trophy management?
Mandatory statewide even-though this was the best year ever for big bucks in many areas?
I asked early - do all you trophy management advocates know what high grading is?
I also asked several other questions of the trophy managers - points ignored all or in part by them.
I guess if you present points no one can counter, they must have merit.
Threw education and example, more ARE choosing to pass on smaller bucks voluntarily!
Want bigger bucks- let the small one go and let others make the same decision.
Big bucks should be something special to be earned if that's what you want your hunting to be - not something behind every tree(exaggeration) because hunting has been defined by a few.

Steve

SteveBNy,

Everybody is entitled to an opinion. You made points that perhaps nobody cares to argue. I DO know what high grading is. Perhaps your looking for a pat on the back?

s6

No pat - just want to know why you wish to have theherd be subjected to the risk because you need to have TV show bucks to hunt.
I keep hearing AR is for a healthier herd - I want to have someone as wise as yourself who understands high grading show me how it would healthy or good.

Yes everyone has a right to their opinon.
I have many and many of them have been changed over the years when someone has pointed out their flaws and I realized facts would not support them - sign of an open mind, I like to think.
Show me flaws in mine and back yours with facts and I am more then willing to listen.


Steve

I personally do not believe in ARs . I would not kill 1 1/2 yo spike or fork now,but my 1st deer was a spike.I would not want to deny a novice hunter that joy. Thats what hunting is about - take the deer that make your heart pound & eat it! The DEC should not be in the trophy biz.Besides there are alot of cowhorn 4 yr olds out there - should they not be harvested?

NYRACKADDICT- EXACTLY!!

Steve

ok, what is high grading?

Looks like a majority favors the idea...atleast on this thread. Then of course always a few naysayers. Looks like a Pa thread